Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-06-02
WASHINGTON LITTER


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troops and of non-nilitary visitors,
and from early morning until nightfall
martial music fills the air--playine
bands. bugles, fifes and drum beats.
The city has not been captured by the
British for a second time, nor are
North and South struggling for its pos
session. Volunteer soldiers from ell
parts of the Union have accomplished
this second. capture of the city, and
find their reward in rich prizes, wei
coming smiles and admiring chances,
from all who love lie militaire."
The Capital is a willing captive on
this occasion, and the impressive gath
ering of representative citizen soldiers
gives Uncle Sam an excellent opportu-
nity to feel his muscle, and examine
his sword and arinor, and to test hi,
strength in other ways. 1t gives the
amateur warriors, too, who are en-
camped around the Washington Mon
ument, better chance to know some
thing of practical military service than
some of them had ever had before.
Strict military discipline is in force at
the camp and the soldiers are requiI-
ed to do guard duty at night in rainy
or fair weather as well as to obey all
other rules and regulations and orders
issued by the commandment of the
camp.
The various organizations which are
taking part in the competitive drills
during the week drew lots for the or
der in which they would compete.
The numbers were placed in box. a
representative of each company select
ing a number Only about half of the
companies in camp are competing for
the prizes. Some of them fell short
of the number of men required for
competition. while Others who witness
ed the specimen drilling of some of
the crack regiments decided it would
be useless to compete with them.
The companies do not know what
nIuueuvers VIII be required of them
until they enter the Drill ground for
competition. The method adopted by
the management is as follows When
n company is called for drill a printed
programme of the movements to be
executed is handed to the captain, who
is allowed to study it for time and
familiarize himself with its require
ments. When his company has fin
ished drilling, the paper is handed
back and the Captain is bound by oath
not to reveal its contents. Eight com
peting companies drill each day.
Every company executes the same
evolutions, and every company occu-
pies thirty minutes in it's exercises.
The judges of the drill are all Off
GERS of the regular army and were APP
pointed by General Sheridan at the
request of the Drill Committee. They
were chosen by Gen. Sheridan on ac-
county of their special fitness for that
service, each of them having spent
much time at the leading military in
stitutions where the manual of arms
is always the first thing thought of.
The event of Wednesday was the
review of the troops by the President
and - brilliant dress parade through
the streets of the city. The weather
bureau furnished perfect day for
the spectacle, the crowds of people
posted along the line of march seemed
almost us great as on Inauguration
Days, the marching Of the soldiers
was good, their uniforms were gor-
geous, and there was nothing but. the
color line" trouble to mar The success
of the day.
The president, with the governors of
several states and their stats and 9TH
er prominent people, occupied flag
bedecked stand on Pennsylvania ave-
nue. in front of the White House. AT
ter the ambulance Of the Red Cross
Society, which has charge of the Drill
hospital, and which brought up the
rear of the parade, had passed the re-
viewing stand, the crowd thought thar
the procession ives over, as no other
organizations we're in sight, and closed
in upon the ambulance after the fash
ion of crowds at street parades.
A few minutes later the Vicksburg
SouthroDs and the Memphis Zouaves
hove in sight and passed the stand
like a separate contingent. They
marched down the avenue short dis
lance and then back to Wizards ho-
te.. When asked why they had drop
ped out of the parade one of the CAP
tains replied that it was all on account
OF the company of integers" that
marched il. front of them. Three
.colored companies, two of them were
three battalions ahead of the position
assigned the Southrons, and seven
battalious ahead of the place where
the Memphis Zouaves have been, was
the cause of the secession from line.
A lapse of about ten minutes and a
half mile behind the tail end of the
procession was, in the estimation of
these two companies, the way to mark
the color line. They have yet 10 learn